Statement on Governor Cuomo’s inclusion of the New York Dream Act in Executive Budget Proposal

New York, NY. The New York State Youth Leadership Council knows that tremendous organizing efforts spearheaded by directly impacted undocumented people led Governor Cuomo to include the New York Dream Act in his executive budget proposal for this year. As the organization that first introduced the New York Dream Act in 2011, we know firsthand what this bill means to our lives. It means that we will be closer to realizing our higher education goals and that the doors of college education might finally be open to us.

Today’s announcement is long overdue. It came as a result of the tireless organizing efforts led by directly impacted undocumented people. From walking 150 miles on foot from NYC to Albany, engaging in multiple civil disobediences, organizing various direct actions and rallies, undocumented immigrant put their bodies on the line time and time again for the betterment of our communities.

This announcement is not a victory in itself. We remember Governor Cuomo’s silence over the past several years. We remember how the New York State legislature killed the New York Dream Act in an unscheduled vote last March. We remember all of our directly impacted friends and family members who were not able to go to college because there was no New York Dream Act. We will hold the Governor accountable to his words and continue to work to make sure the New York Dream Act remains as part of the final budget resolution on April 1st, 2015. Our faith rests with our community, not politicians.